Ellis’ 24 points ruins Lakers return to the Forum

Oct 10, 1:11 am EDT

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INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP)—Monta Ellis(notes) scored 24 points and the Golden State Warriors ruined the Los Angeles Lakers return to the “Fabulous” Forum with a 110-91 preseason victory Friday night.

Kelenna Azubuike(notes) and Anthony Randolph(notes) both added 18 points and Andris Biedrins(notes) had 12 rebounds as the Warriors grabbed an early lead and never relinquished it.

Andrew Bynum(notes) lead Los Angeles with 19 points and six rebounds while Kobe Bryant(notes) had 15 points on 5-for-11 shooting as the Lakers lost at the site of some of the franchise’s greatest victories.

The Forum served as the Lakers’ home court from Dec. 31, 1967 to May 23, 1999. With its bright yellow-and-orange seating pattern and yellow-spoked roof, the circular arena provided an up-tempo backdrop for six NBA championships and an electrified stage for the Magic Johnson’s “Showtime” era of the 1980s.

The Lakers, who now play at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, generally schedules two preseason games in Hawaii during training camp.

After opting not to travel to Hawaii this year, the defending NBA champions needed to find new locations for preseason games. When the NBA rejected an initial request for an outdoor game at the Los Angeles Coliseum, the Lakers quickly arranged for a return to the Forum, which is now owned by a local church.

“Thanks for allowing us to come home for one night,” exclaimed guard Derek Fisher(notes) to the crowd in a brief pregame ceremony. Fisher and Bryant are the only current Lakers who played for them during the Forum days.

Although Fisher arrived to find his gear sitting in the same locker he left behind 10 years ago, there was some updating required to play the first NBA game in the Forum in a decade.

The Lakers had to transport the floor and baskets from Staples Center to the Forum. Videoboards had to be added in the rafters behind each basket because the center court scoreboard has long been removed.

Once they got around to playing, Golden State quickly tried to spoil the homecoming.

Ellis opened with 7-for-10 shooting and 16 points to lead the Warriors to a 52-48 halftime lead. Azubuike then scored seven straight points as Golden State built a 69-55 lead midway through the third.

NOTES: Jeffrey Osborne, who first performed the national anthem at the Forum in 1979, returned 30 years later to do the same Friday. The R&B artist also sang the anthem at Lakers home games during the 2008 and 2009 NBA finals. … The Lakers beat Golden State 118-101 in Anaheim on Tuesday. … Warriors G Stephen Jackson(notes) picked up five fouls and a technical in less then 9 minutes of the first quarter and did not play again.

Updated Oct 10, 1:11 am EDT
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37 Comments

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  1. Mercedez
    37. Posted by Mercedez Thu Oct 15 4:08pm EDT

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    News flash!!!!!!!! its preseason!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  2. Rajinder
    36. Posted by Rajinder Wed Oct 14 8:22pm EDT

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    warriors 2010 champs
    we believe
  3. angloamer
    35. Posted by angloamer Tue Oct 13 4:14pm EDT

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    The Lakers are starting to show their age. All the starters are over 30 now, you saw it beginning in the playoffs last year. They wont make it to the finals this year, thats evident.
  4. <i>westsimeon</i>
    34. Posted by westsimeon Tue Oct 13 9:41am EDT

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    c bear you are really a dumb a$$ just because the lakers lost one preseason game you all gettin your hopes up hater! shows u dont watch much b-ball cuz if had saw the first game the lakers blew they a$$ out they not gonna take these games here serious! lolz just wait til the regular season starts they gone have the best record again hater!!!
  5. C Bear
    33. Posted by C Bear Tue Oct 13 2:11am EDT

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    Lakers RIVALRY the CLIPPERS even BEAT the WARRIORS. I MEAN COME ON NOW DAWM. enough said!
  6. C Bear
    32. Posted by C Bear Tue Oct 13 1:59am EDT

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    Dawm, Lakers get over it. Crybabies you lost. Warriors caught you off guard. WHERE IS THE LAKER TEAM OF LAST YEAR THAT WON THE TITLE. THE ONLY OFFENCE THEY HAD LAST YEAR WAS ARIZA AND FRONTOFFICE MADE A MISTAKE BY LETTING ARIZA GO. LAKER FANS BRAGGED ON AND ON ALL SUMMER ABOUT THE LAKERS. AND THEY LOOSE TO A EASY TEAM. THE WARRIORS. There it is Lakers Fans. I mean all that practising in the Gym for the Lakers was all for nothing. LAKERS FANS WERE COMPLAINING OVER SHAQ N LEBRON HAVING FUN. Cleveland won there preseason game and where are the lakers at. Anyway get over it this game is old news 4 days ago. And its only preseason, LAST PRESEASON THE LAKERS BEAT THE WARRIORS. WHAT ABOUT THIS PRESEASON. THE LAKERS LASTYEAR HAD EASY GAMES AGAINST EASY TEAMS. WHAT WAS IT TEN GAMES. HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS CAN EVEN MUSCLE THAT SCHEDULE. SO GET OVER IT AND DON'T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU IN THE ASS ON THE WAY OUT....................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  7. Nuclear Douchebag
    31. Posted by Nuclear Douchebag Mon Oct 12 3:50pm EDT

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    Boston fans piping up??
    Win the East this year, then talk.
  8. Nuclear Douchebag
    30. Posted by Nuclear Douchebag Mon Oct 12 3:49pm EDT

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    Combined 3-13 shooting for starters Fish and Artest and 2-18 for the team from 3...
    Pre-season or not, you'll lose most nights with those numbers. I bet you won't see a lot of nights that bad from the Lakers during the season, unless Artest decides he's a consistent outside threat.

    Remember the Laker/Rocket playoff series last year, when the games went to crunch time and Artest got his hands on the ball, he just stuck his head down and went 1 on 5. He's good, but not good enough to make that work, and he took the rest of the Rockets out of the game.

    I'm curious to see if: (a) Artest goes into that 'full-retard' mode with the Lakers, and (b) if he can learn to play in the triangle.
  9. Kurd 4 Life
    29. Posted by Kurd 4 Life Sun Oct 11 9:32pm EDT

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    man i hate the golden state.

    luv LA LAKERS.

    GO LA LAKERS.

    GO KOBE BRYANT.
  10. leoxoel
    28. Posted by leoxoel Sat Oct 10 11:06pm EDT

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    jackson doesn't deserve to be a warrior - get rid of him
  11. GO BACK TO IRELAND STUPID BOSTON KELTICS
    27. Posted by GO BACK TO IRELAND STUPID BOSTON KELTICS Sat Oct 10 7:50pm EDT

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    the boston smelltics suck!
  12. Chito
    26. Posted by Chito Sat Oct 10 6:43pm EDT

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    wow warriors beat the Lakers on preseason game. It's a preseason you haters, it don't count. What count is mid June when were at the championship parade. You Losers!!! GO LAKERS
  13. JF
    25. Posted by JF Sat Oct 10 6:29pm EDT

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    I love the Forum, even if it was a preseason game, the view from any seat kills the Staples Center as far as viewing experience and price per seat. I forgot how small the Forum was, and they used to pack 17,505 every night. The era of sports being affordable for the average fan is long gone.
  14. urallwitnesses23
    24. Posted by urallwitnesses23 Sat Oct 10 6:20pm EDT

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    C'mon now, take it easy on Kobe Bean and crew,after all it's one preseason game, right? Although, the Lakers are probably last year's champions...vs. GS...the 29-win-Warriors...get some rest and practice in Golden Boys, you got Sacramento coming Thursday!
  15. Anmol
    23. Posted by Anmol Sat Oct 10 5:13pm EDT

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    lol ppl its preseason andi bet lakers were probably trying new and different stuff and they probably even try to bet the warriors ... lol haters
  16. Com-Pee-Ta
    22. Posted by Com-Pee-Ta Sat Oct 10 4:38pm EDT

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    We can see who the dumb a$$ haters are in here and that they don't know much about basketball!
  17. bryant
    21. Posted by bryant Sat Oct 10 4:28pm EDT

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    wait until the 30th game of the regular season to gage any team you root for. i don't care who you root for if andrew bynum plays better than he did last year the season is over. size up those championship rings right now. peace.
  18. got blunt
    20. Posted by got blunt Sat Oct 10 4:01pm EDT

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    HAHAHAHA THE LAKERS LOST TO THE WARRIORS?this is the team that's supposed to WIN IT ALL with ease.


    yet you can't even take on the warriors.


    i know it's pre season....but i mean come it's the warriors =)
  19. Boston
    19. Posted by Boston Sat Oct 10 3:45pm EDT

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    Question, is kobe still crying over this loss and who is he blaming this time. after all it is never, never his fault when the lakers lose , but he is always grabbiing the glory for himself when they win.
  20. Boston
    18. Posted by Boston Sat Oct 10 3:44pm EDT

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    Question, is kobe still crying over this loss and who is he blaming this time. after all it is never, never his fault when the lakers lose , but he is always grabbiing the glory for himself when they win.
  21. Isaiah
    17. Posted by Isaiah Sat Oct 10 2:59pm EDT

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    LMAO!!! It's preseason! LOL! They're not out to win the game, they're working on different facets of the game! LOL! Haters are so silly.
  22. JustineA
    16. Posted by JustineA Sat Oct 10 1:00pm EDT

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    Another year of watching Fishers feet look like they are nailed to the floor while guards drive right down the middle of the lane. Oh boy...
  23. bobby
    15. Posted by bobby Sat Oct 10 12:46pm EDT

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    lol the lakers lost to the WARRIORS!! this is the team that vegas chose to win the championship this year?!?! LOLOL lakers are a JOKE!!!!!!
  24. Lew Ghost
    14. Posted by Lew Ghost Sat Oct 10 11:58am EDT

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    no warrior fans are acting like we won any title, we all think like post #10!!!
  25. April
    13. Posted by April Sat Oct 10 10:48am EDT

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    Are you people kidding me? It's a damn preseason game!!!! You act like you won the title. @#$%IN' MORONS
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Top Performers

 Top Performers
 Golden State
M. Ellis Monta Ellis
11-20,  24 Pts
3 Rebs, 8 Assists
 LA Lakers
A. Bynum Andrew Bynum
7-11,  19 Pts
6 Rebs, 0 Assists

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